Approval rates
Comparing a judge's approval rate to broader benchmarks helps you understand the statistical landscape of your hearing. Judge Bozarth maintains a lifetime approval rate of 64%, which currently tracks 2 points above the Fresno office average of 62% and 6 points above the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 17,119 lifetime decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Bozarth's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
Over a 10-year tenure, Judge Bozarth has maintained a consistent approach to disability adjudication. The most recent reporting period shows a 65% approval rate, reflecting a steady pattern in the evaluation of evidence and testimony. This stability suggests a predictable process for how your case will be reviewed.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bozarth's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
Hearing with Judge Bozarth? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Fresno hearing office
The Fresno Hearing Office serves a diverse population across California, managing a high volume of disability claims. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 62%, the facility operates as a critical hub for regional SSDI processing. You can expect a professional environment where evidence quality and medical documentation are the primary drivers of your case outcome.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Fresno Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges vary significantly, ranging from 37% to 73%. This variance highlights why understanding the specific requirements of your case is more important than focusing solely on the judge's identity.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.